To the Editor:

Regarding the defeat of Question 3 at the polls, which proposed a casino in Lewiston, it was interesting to read in Mayor Gilbert’s Twin City TIMES column on November 10, 2011 that neither he nor governor Lepage are “gamblers.”

Here are a couple of revealing quotes from this column. First, from Mayor Gilbert: “As for gambling. I do. Here is the extent of it, I spent $15 in the machines during one week in Las Vegas, and I buy one State of Maine Megabucks ticket weekly and a Powerball ticket when I think of it.”

Second, from Governor LePage: “I do not gamble. The only gambling I do is I get up in the morning and go to work and hope I get home safely. That’s my biggest gamble.”

Based on these quotes by these two political leaders, it seems to me that the people of Maine, by a large majority, feel the same way about gambling as do the mayor and the governor. So what’s all the fuss about regarding the results of the recent voting? In this instance, the voters have simply supported the attitude toward gambling reflected in the above quotes by two strong political leaders, one at the local level and one at the state level.

You know, you’re either for gambling or you’re against gambling. If you come out publicly that you, yourself, don’t gamble or hardly gamble, then why would you try to influence others to be for it? The voters of Maine have taken a position on this issue, just as they did when they repealed the “gay marriage” law on November 4, 2009.

Maine citizens have always been strong willed, intelligent and independent when it comes to controversial voting issues. More than anything else, when it comes to casting their votes in the voting booths, they will always vote their true feelings.

In other words, don’t try to tell Maine people how to vote. They don’t like it, and they never will. They are very capable of making up their own minds about voting matters.

You can bet your life on it.

James R. Flynn

Lewiston